Larvotto Marine Reserve
Nice / Cote d'Azur · France
Established in 1976 and straddling the border between Monaco and Nice, the Larvotto reserve is the most protected stretch of coastline on the French Riviera. Decades without fishing have allowed dusky grouper to grow to trophy size and red scorpionfish to colonise every rocky ledge from the shallows to 40 metres. Yellow gorgonian fans line the sloping reef walls and sea fans crowd the overhangs where large morays reside year-round. The reserve is accessible by short boat ride from Nice or as a shore dive from Monaco's Larvotto beach.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 40 m
Advanced depths
Current
Usually still
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
15 to 25 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
13 to 26°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 13 |
| Vis (m) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 10 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Still | Still | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Mediterranean Moray
Last confirmed Jun 21, 2026 · 12 records
Very likely
Most dives
Peacock Blenny
Last confirmed Apr 17, 2026 · 6 records
Very likely
Most dives
Ornate Wrasse
Last confirmed Jun 28, 2026 · 21 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Red Scorpionfish
Last confirmed Jun 26, 2026 · 4 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Yellow Gorgonian
Last confirmed Feb 22, 2026 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Red Sea Urchin
Last confirmed Jun 15, 2026 · 3 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Dusky Grouper Juvenile
Last confirmed Jun 15, 2026 · 8 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Amberjack
Last confirmed Jul 15, 2024 · 1 records
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Gear